The Game (4 page)

He gazed down at her from his incredible height. The wind whipped a few short gold curls away from his stunning face, revealing high, hard cheekbones, a strong, determined jaw, and an arrow-straight, finely chiseled nose. The wind did not cease, pushing at his loose, open shirt, molding it against his body. A wide swath of his broad, bronzed chest was revealed by his open laces, while the fine linen fabric outlined the length of his torso, his concave stomach, and the narrowness of his hips. The fluttering of his shirt also revealed the very heavy bulge of his manhood between his thighs. Katherine sucked in her breath, pray
ing he was one of those fops who still wore a codpiece. If not, he would kill her when he raped her.

Glinting gray eyes met her gaze—and Katherine could not look away.

“I am Liam O’Neill,” he said, his smile hard and satisfied. “The captain of this ship.”

Katherine could not respond—could not remove her gaze from his.

Something began to smolder in his eyes. His smile widened—but it was far from reassuring. “What is it that I have captured? Such a pretty prize. A veritable treasure, it seems, a gem amongst so much lead and ore. Come, sweetheart, come.”

And he reached down for her.

B
efore Katherine could react, the golden pirate was bending over her and, with a grip of steel, pulled her to her feet.

Her wide eyes locked with his. Satisfaction gleamed there. Abruptly Katherine regained her senses and she yanked her arm back. To little avail; his grip was not broken. He smiled, his teeth flashing white.

“Unhand me!” Katherine cried, rising hysteria sounding in her tone.

Surprise filled his gray gaze—quickly followed by amusement. “As you wish, mistress.”

The instant she was free she backed away from him, rubbing her wrist, never taking her eyes from his face. He regarded her with lazy anticipation. He was supremely confident. Katherine realized that she was shaking visibly. How could he not be certain of victory? He was the captain of the pirates, the king of this thieving lot, and she was his helpless prisoner. Her glance shot to the right, to the cold winter gray swells of the sea.

“There is no escape, mistress,” the pirate said softly. “Unless you think to jump to your death?”

That thought was just occurring to her. He recognized her intent in that same moment. As Katherine turned with the intention of hurling herself to a watery grave, he leapt upon her. She was pulled against his muscular body from behind—and wrapped in his embrace.

She screamed in impotence and fear and anger, twisting,
desperate to escape. His iron grip only fueled her anger and encouraged her to increase her futile efforts at resistance. She grew so faint from her exertions that she feared she might collapse in his arms. Finally he grew bored. Abruptly he tightened his arms around her, and she was forced to become absolutely still.

“Better,” he breathed against her neck and ear. “I can not allow you to escape, mistress; in truth, you have only succeeded in whetting my appetite further.”

Katherine trembled. Would he rape her now—on the deck—publicly? “Please.”

“Please, what?” His arms were still wrapped around her waist. When he spoke, his mouth brushed her neck, and sparks of unwelcome sensation seemed to ignite there. His body, pressed against hers, was far too warm, and far too hard. Katherine had never before been held by a man. It was shocking. It was terrifying. Katherine found it difficult to breathe. “Please, let me go.” She was acutely aware of every male inch of him.

He turned her to face him. “Come, sweetheart, I am not going to hurt you. Do not be afraid.”

Katherine jerked her arm free of his. But suddenly she was hopeful, and it showed in her eyes.

His beautiful mouth curled. “You misunderstand me. I will not hurt you, but surely you do not think to dissuade me from the pleasures of your body? Have you not heard it said that all is fair in love and war? Do you not understand that to the victors go the spoils—and that you are, by far, the loveliest treasure I have won in some time?”

Katherine stood very still. “This is not love.”

His pause was brief, barely discernible. “No.”

“And to attack a small ship like this, ’tis not war. ’Tis piracy, ’tis savage aggression,” Katherine cried.

His gaze was hooded, but his teeth glimmered white again. “But I
am
a savage, fair lady, and wars of words, while amusing, cannot deter me from your charms and my
evil
design.”

Katherine was rigid, anger flaring and mingling with her fear. “How does one argue with a savage?”

“A difficult task,” he agreed.

“You must release me! My father—”

He cut her words off. “No.”

Katherine looked into his cold gray eyes and knew that she would not be able to move this man. Hatred welled up within her. “
Damn you
.”

His response was a flash of white teeth and a short, rich chuckle. “From the lips of a near nun?”

“You play God with my life!” she shouted furiously.

“I am only intent on bedding you, mistress, not murdering you.”

“’Tis the same.”

His glance grew speculative. “You would jump to your death before lying with me? Or perhaps, afterward?”

Her glance strayed to the sea. She knew she did not have the courage to do it, but she lied. “Yes.”

“Suicide is a greater sin than fornication.” His glance impaled hers.

He blurred before her very eyes. “Then perhaps you will feel some remorse in the end.”

He tilted up her chin. “How very foolish you are. I will not let you jump to your death. And I shall show you just how foolish you are.”

“No,” Katherine said, shaking her head. “No. There is nothing you can do or say to convince me to lie with you.”

His smile dawned, slow and bright. For a moment he did not speak. “On the morrow, Katherine, you will be whispering words of sweet, undying love in my ear whilst begging me not to leave your bed.”

Katherine gasped. She was incredulous. She could only stare up at his beautiful, arrogant face.

He turned to the big, bald pirate who had brought her up from below. “Escort the ladies to the
Sea Dagger
, Macgregor. And if a single hair is missing from either of their heads,
your
bald pate will roll into the sea without further ado.”

“Aye, Captain,” Macgregor said, apparently unperturbed by the threat.

And as the brawny sailor took her arm and escorted her across the deck toward the warship that was hooked to the
trader, Katherine was relieved. Their first confrontation was over, she had not been raped—she had thus far survived.

But he had made his intentions clear. She was being removed to the pirate ship and sometime this evening he would take her to his bed. She had gained but a momentary respite.

But a brief respite was better than none at all. Some of Katherine’s fear began to subside. Surely, if she were very clever, she could extricate herself from a fate worse than death.

Macgregor left Juliet and Katherine in the captain’s cabin alone. Katherine was shocked. Juliet was also agape. This was a pirate’s den?

The cabin was intricately paneled in teakwood. Dozens of beautiful rugs covered most of the gleaming oak floor. Under one of the cabin’s five portholes were some half dozen oversize Turkish pillows, embroidered and tasseled. A small tufted ottoman in emerald green silk made it appear that someone, perhaps the pirate captain, actually reclined Muslim-style upon those pillows.

A large, nearly black, wood dining table, its heavy pedestal boasting four clawed feet, graced the far end of the room. Six leather-backed Spanish chairs surrounded it. One end of the table was used as a desk, for it was covered with maps and charts, inkhorn and quill, and books.

One wall boasted a bookcase almost as high as the ceiling. Every inch was crammed with leather-bound volumes. Another wall held an exquisite pine armoire. Two delicate French chairs with embroidered blue cushions were on either side.

At the other end of the cabin was a bed. It was fit for one of the state rooms at Hampton Court. The canopy was a royal purple damask, the underside pleated gold silk. The curtains were of royal purple velvet, pulled back by heavy red-and-gold cords. Gold-and-red down quilts covered the bed, and embroidered pillows similar to those Katherine had worked upon in the convent were strewn about it. Katherine did not recognize the coat-of-arms
above the headboard, but noted the fleur-de-lis and recognized that it was French.

There was also a large, boldly carved chest at the foot of the bed. She recognized the Celtic design atop the padlocked lid instantly—the chest had come from her homeland. And upon the walls of the cabin were numerous works of art.

Katherine turned to face Juliet, who stood in front of the door. “What kind of place is this?”

“Katherine—undoubtedly this very room is a testimony to all the ships the pirate has plundered.”

Katherine realized that Juliet was correct. This room was evidence of many years of savage theft and bloody mayhem committed upon the high seas. This room was proof positive of his evil pirate ways. Then Katherine saw the bed.

She had remarked it before, of course. But in passing. Now she stared at it. Riveted. In her mind’s eye she saw herself upon the soft mattress, thrashing, the pirate on top of her, ravishing her, laughing. She cried out and rushed across the room, past Juliet. Wildly she tried the door, but it was barred from the outside.

Juliet put her arm around her. “Katherine, what are we going to do?”

“I don’t know. I am so afraid.” Katherine looked around, then finally chose to sit in one of the heavy Spanish chairs. Her eyes widened when she grasped the chair and it did not move. It was tied down to the floor. She realized that everything in the cabin must be similarly secured. She slid into the chair and closed her eyes.

She felt extraordinarily tired, but her heart was pounding, too, in anticipation of the horror that was to come and from knowing that she must still attempt to defend herself. For she did not believe the pirate’s declaration that he would not hurt her; such a statement, coming from such a man, was ludicrous. Katherine knew that she must reveal herself as the earl of Desmond’s daughter immediately. Surely he would leave her virtue intact once he learned her identity, and give her over to her father for a handsome ransom.

Katherine recalled the pirate’s smoldering gray eyes. She had never seen a man look at her in such a way before.

She shook. Instinct warned her that the pirate would toy with her as a cat did a mouse, then take her, ransom or no. She crossed herself, praying that she was wrong.

A moment later he entered the cabin. Katherine jerked upright as he closed the heavy door behind him. Juliet darted to where Katherine sat, but he did not even glance at her. His gaze slid over Katherine. Clearly he undressed her with his eyes. Katherine’s breathing was shallow. Her heart felt as if it might leap right out of her breast. She flushed in response to his insolence.

Finally he turned his gaze from her to Juliet and crooked his finger. “You, my lady, come.”

Juliet froze.

Katherine was horrified—what did he intend for her younger friend? Surely he would not abuse them both? She was on her feet, in front of Juliet. “S-she stays w-with me.”

He raised one of his brows and laughed. “How brave you are, mistress. But you do not give orders upon my ship. Lady, come.”

Juliet did not move, and Katherine gripped her arm, preventing her from obeying him. “What do you intend?”

He held her eyes. “Not what you are so obviously thinking, sweetheart. I have no need of your friend—your charms will occupy me well this night. But unless you wish an audience, the lady leaves.”

Katherine swallowed, her color higher. She did not release Juliet. “C-captain.”

He looked amused.

“You surely think to ransom me?”

His gaze moved from her eyes, to her full mouth, then down to her bosom, flattened by the current style of dress. Katherine’s nipples were tight. From breathing so hard and fast. Did he now notice the shabby state of her clothing, or the charms he had so recently referred to? “’Tis not what you must think!” she cried in a rush. “I am no serving girl; I am the daughter of an earl!”

He lifted one tawny brow slightly.

“I swear upon the cross and all that is holy,” Katherine said frantically, “I am the earl of Desmond’s daughter.”

He said, “Lady Juliet. Do you wish to be removed in a forcible manner from this cabin?”

Juliet shook her head no, freed herself from Katherine’s grasp, and quickly walked toward the pirate. Katherine was panicked, aware that her fate was soon to be sealed. The captain of the
Sea Dagger
opened the door. Macgregor waited there with supreme indifference. Juliet was handed over to the seaman, and then the door was closed and the pirate faced Katherine, a slow smile spreading across his face. He moved toward her.

Katherine lost the last of her good sense. As he came forward she flew toward the door. He caught her easily as she tried to rush past him, and a moment later she was pressed against the very door she wished to escape through. But his huge hands held her shoulders firmly, pinning her to the wood, and one of his thighs was suddenly between her legs, much too intimately. Katherine could not move.

“So foolish, sweetheart. I am not going to hurt you. I would never hurt a flower such as you. Pluck, yes. Hurt, no.”

Katherine tried to compose herself in the face of his soft, seductive tone—no easy task when pressed against his formidable body. “I am the earl’s daughter,” she said desperately. “He will kill you for this trespass.”

“Desmond can hardly kill me,” he said easily. He did not appear to be moved at all by the fact of her parentage.

“Then you do not know him,” Katherine insisted.

“I know him,” he said, and then he touched her face with one hand. His palm stroked her cheek and jaw. Katherine froze, wishing he would cease his butterfly touch.

“And soon I will know you,” he whispered, his mouth coming close to hers. “Soon I must know you.”

Katherine gasped then, for his huge phallus brushed against the joining place of her thighs.

He murmured, “You are a great beauty, mistress, the kind of woman to haunt a man’s dreams.”

Katherine’s gaze flew to his. He had not moved away
from her and she was acutely aware of his virility, and what would soon happen if she did not somehow defend herself. And for one single moment, she did not, could not, move.

Abruptly she writhed and jerked against him, but he only tightened his grip upon her. “You have hardly dreamed of me, pirate, for we have just met!”

He grinned briefly. “I am going too fast. That is not my intention.” But he did not move away from her. “Relax, sweetheart, relax. You cannot win in any love play that occurs between us. I am far too experienced. I am not going to hurt you. I am going to please you.”

Katherine was frozen but a moment. “You think to steal my virtue and not hurt me? ’Tis impossible! And a man such as you could never please me—not in any way.”

He laughed. And as he laughed, he slid one arm behind her, drawing her even farther into his embrace. Again he touched her face, his fingertips fluttering across her skin. “Foolish—innocent—green.”